Centrifugal purifying apparatus for lubricating oil



June 8 1926.

L. SAIVES CENTRIFUGAL PURIFYING APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING OIL Filed Feb.

1 u a 1 1 u I 0 I INVENTOR Patented June 8, 1926.

-rruo sATEs LEON SAIVES, 0F ZBIIILANCOUIRT, FRANCE.

CENTRIFUGAL PURIIFYING APPARATUS FOR LUBEICATING OIL.

Application filed February 20, 1923, Serial No. 620,212, and in France March 7, 1922.

The present invention relates to an apparatus intended for the purification of lubricating oil which purification is effected by the action of centrifugal force.

As is known, it is essential that oils generally used for lubricating be free from foreign matter and that they should always retain their original purity.

Now'it is frequently found in practice that the oils become contaminated with foreign matter either with filings or grit contained in the reservoirs or dust coming from the exterior or products arising from the wear and tear of the surfaces in frictional contact.

In particular, as regards explosion or combustion motors in which the cylinders are is communication with the casings con taining the lubricating oil, there is produced in the passages a carbonaceous deposit arising either from the incomplete combustion of the motive fluid or from the carbonization of the lubricating oil.

This carbonaceous deposit frequently passes through the segments and the piston in the form of small grains of coke and mixes with the lubricating oil. These small particles of coke held in suspension in the oil, cause a rapid wear and tear on the parts in frictional contact, namely, pistons, cylinders, crank shafts, etc.

lit is therefore of considerable advantage to immediately effect the elimination of such foreign matter so as to avoid the circulation of such matter in the lubricating apparatus.

The filter placedin the path of the circulation of the oil does not entirely solve the problem because itretains only relatively large particles. in order to retain the smallest particles it is necessary to have a more efficient apparatus.

The accompanying Figures 1 to 4 shew:

In Figure l a sectional View of a purifying apparatus in accordance with the invention. V

In Figure 2 a plan of Figure 1.

In Figure 3 a section of the motor casing in which is disposed an apparatus according to the invention.

in Figure 4 a constructional modification.

The apparatus represented in Figures 1 to 4 is based on the separation of materials of different densities by centrifugal action. All foreign matter which contain inates lubricating oils is heavier than the oil itself. If an energetic .gyratory move-' ment be given to the oil the foreign matters will be precipitated towards the oint where the speed is greatest and it will be possible to extract the purified oil at the central portion of the apparatus. The latter comprises a smallcylindrical reservoir 1 capable of turning about an axis az-y. This reservoir is provided with a central tube 2 of slightly conical form which extends nearly to the bottom of the reservoir 1. The reservoir 1 is further provided with four small tubes 3 passing through the walls of the reservoir and terminating at a short distance in front of the wallof the slightly tapered tube 2.

Blades or vanes 5 are placed in the interior of the apparatus in order to cause the oil to participate in the rotational movement.

The action of the apparatus is as follows:

The apparatus which rotates at high speed about its axis causes the undesirable impurities to accumulate at the wall of the reservoir 1, the lighter-lubricating oil free of impurities remaining nearer the center and passing out of the apparatus through -the tubes 3, following the path indicated by the arrows. I

Foreign particles contained in the oil collect agamst the interior wall of the reservoir and the purified oil escapes by the tubes 3 3 1 It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the apparatus described which is only given by way of example, but it relates to all apparatus acting by centrifugal force to separate foreign matter contained in oil.

Figure 3 indicates by way of example a purifying installation in accordance with the invention applied to the lower casing of a motor.

The apparatus is driven by a vertical shaft 6 which receives its movement from the motor. At the lower art of the casing is provided a small man ole 7 which permits of the apparatus being dismounted to effect cleaning.

The action of this construction is as follows:

The oil having lubricated the different parts of the motor flows onto the wall of the crank case 9 and therefrom to the centre of lllli the apparatus whence it is projected after purification to the chamber 10 of the casing which forms a reservoir for the oil, from supported on the partition wall 8 separatingthe chamber 10 from the upper portion of the reserioir, acts as a filter and the said metallic gauze prevents the passage of too large injurious particles.

vided adjacent thebase of 12. The

If desired it is possible to so arrange the construction that the openings from the upper tubes would terminate in a closed chamber in such manner as to take advantage of the movement of the apparatus so as to give a circulating movement to the oil and thus avoid the necessity of providing the usual oil circulating pump.

The apparatus as shewn in Figure 4 is only a constructional modification of the apparatus sheWn in Figures 1 and 2.

In this apparatus the central tube 12 descends right to the bottomof the reservoir and the oil flows between the internal and external Walls through the holes 18, 13 prothe central tube apparatus is therefore closed by a screw threaded cover 14, blades or vanes 15 being provided as in the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Claims 4 1. In an open oil purifying system for an internal combustion engine, a crank case, a collecting shelf therein providing a chamber above the same for collecting used oil, an outlet therefor, a separator therein below said shelf for receiving the used oil from the outlet and removing the solid impurities therefrom, and a receiving chamber for receiving the purified oil.

2. In the structure defined by claim 1, the collecting chamber, separator, and receiving chamber being positioned to permit gravity flow of oil thru the system.

3. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a crank case, a shelf substantially parallel to the bottom of the crank case for collecting used lubricating oil, said shelf having an outlet opening, a centrifugal oil separator positioned between the shelf and the crank case bottom for receiving the used oil thru the shelf opening and removing impurities therefrom, and discharging the purified oil to the bottom of the crank case.

4. In combination with the structure defined by claim 3, a normally closed opening in the crank case for permitting access to said separator. i

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

LEON SAIVES. 

